| April 30, 2026 TEMPLE, TX — More than 250 FFA and 4-H students from across Texas gathered on April 20, 2026, at the Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest in Nacogdoches to compete in the highly anticipated State Wildlife Recreation Management Career Development Event. This year’s top individual honors went to Jami Grimes of the Livingston Chapter, who earned high point individual in the FFA division. In the 4-H division, Sam Reedy of Somervell County claimed the top spot. Grimes received a $500 scholarship from the Wildlife Alliance for Youth (WAY), in recognition of his outstanding performance. Additionally, he received a $1,000 scholarship from Ducks Unlimited. The Katy FFA Chapter took home the top team award in the FFA division with a total score of 474, while Fort Bend County 4-H Club led the 4-H division with a collective score of 411. The state contest is the culmination of regional competitions and showcases the best of Texas youth in wildlife and habitat conservation. The Wildlife Contest allows for students to demonstrate their depth of knowledge and passion for the natural world. The event brought together the top five teams from each of the twelve FFA areas, as well as the top two 4-H teams from each of the five Texas regions. Students were tested on plant identification, wildlife food preferences, biological facts, habitat evaluation and management, fish and game laws, outdoor safety, and species identification. According to Molly Christensen, Communications and Outreach Coordinator with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB), “This annual contest is made possible through the support of the Wildlife Alliance for Youth, a collaboration of state, federal, and private organizations dedicated to educating the next generation of conservation leaders.” The contest aligns with the Agricultural Science 381 Wildlife and Recreation Management curriculum, as well as Range Management and Ecology (AGSC 382), providing students with practical knowledge and real-world applications. The Wildlife Alliance for Youth includes the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Ducks Unlimited, Texas 4-H, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas FFA Association, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Welder Wildlife Foundation. ###
You can find the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board at www.tsswcb.texas.gov, on Facebook, and on Twitter @TSSWCB. The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, established in 1939, administers Texas’ soil and water conservation law and delivers coordinated natural resource conservation programs to agricultural producers through the State’s 216 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board is the lead agency for planning, implementing, and managing programs for preventing and abating agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint sources of water pollution.
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